In 1837, James Brown opened Browns Hotel with his savings. Each napkin likewise. I hadnt noticed that. Its given us a wonderful marketing platform, an international profile. When Downton Abbey opens, the camera follows the servants as they rise and ready the house for the day. Just like Lark Rise to Candleford, which I must admit, is a much better show. However, 69 Emmy nominations and 15 wins later, it's never been more apparent just how much of an impact the show made. Every British tourist attraction sells little guidebooks published by the Pitkin company. Alongside his partner Mrs. Hughes, Carson becomes an even sweeter and softer version of his obstinate self. Servants' thoughts have rarely been recorded, slaves' even less so. Afternoon tea, priced at around $60 per person, is still quite an occasion. Our image of this. Lesley Nicol as Mrs. Patmore, the Cook. What were the wages of Downton Abbey-era servants? Maggie Smith will be playing a 120 year old by the time this show wraps production. Jim Carter appeared in many period dramas before Downton Abbey. Rarely has her talent or her methods been challenged by anyone. The potential opportunities for lasting friendships were limited even below stairs. Vic, [] Comments Downstairs in Downton Abbey: TheServants []. His net worth is believed to total $4 million. Gardeners have been referred to, as have gamekeepers and general outdoor staff. Weve seen at least one groom, too. I was shouted at by the harridan of a cook and treated like some sort of sub-human by my employers who found fault with everything I did.". The Portal for Public History. Valeting, unlike what is implied in DA, involved more than helping on the clothes, it meant supervising the washing and cleaning, (many could not be laundered in these times, they were sponged and pressed which was the valets job), mending, polishing etc and it was here that most of the valeting time was consumed. This one explains how a pre-war British country house worked. I looked up wage information, and found that a common yearly salary for a Butler like Carson would be roughly 55-70 (several sources - The Victorian Domestic Servant Hierarchy and Wage Scale and Mrs. Beeton's Household Management). Surprisingly, Downton Abbey was positively frugal in comparison to that estimate, though the series was largely filmed before the cost of filming TV shows began to skyrocket thanks to the rise of streaming giants (per Variety). ), I love this post. Cook - Check Undercook or 1st kitchenmaid - check, but the first kitchen maid is responsible for cooking the servants' meals, not the cook, and there should be more than one kitchen maid. In season 3, Edith mentions a new (presumably ladys) maid, but we never see her. It became an extravagance for all but the biggest houses to have servants. DA is about to have the opposite problem of most TV shows, where the actors age faster than the plots move (Im looking at you, kid from Lost! Ladys MaidsThere is one for Lady Grantham, but as all the daughters are out in society they should have maids too, at least one for Lady Mary, and one to be shared between the other two at the least. My fellow-Canadian and a resident of that historic hotbed of Socialism and socialized medicine called Saskatchewan has turned on me! In theory, even when servants had finished with their duties and were finally sitting down to eat their breakfast, they were subject to be called at a moments whim. In the early seasons, Daisy is often more concerned with flights of fancy than her position, but as the series progresses, so do her priorities. Someeven became proprietors of public houses. The huge global success of Downton, according to Lady Fiona Carnarvon, has funded a rolling programme of building repairs aimed at safeguarding Highclere for the next generation. Seriously, we dont need to see Ethel in every episode. The following transcript has been edited. I wage a one-man War against the forelock-tugging worship of all things that glorify a parasitic aristocracy and then am betrayed! How much did domestic servants get paid? In fact the doors of stately homes and townhouses revolved with departing servants seeking a better life elsewhere. Although Downton Abbey follows only 11 of the upper servants closely, one can see other servants (housemaids, a scullery maid, young boys, coal men, and the like) in the background going about their business. The Regency Court Gown: Regency Fashion, Pride and Prejudice Economics: Or Why a Single Man with a Fortune of 4,000 Per Year is a Desirable Husband, A Portrait of a 19th C. Artist by an UnknownArtist. While Mrs. Hughes was dedicated fully to her work, no one was as dedicated to the house as Mr. Carson. Thomas was one of the most villainous characters in the series. Luckily though, he found a place as a member of the family instead. Loved Downton! :). Did servants get paid? Thanks to the teachings of Mrs. Patmore, she soon is prepped to take on the role of lead cook one day. Girls worked part-time for two years to buy the uniform necessary to secure a job because service offered a roof over their heads and regular meals. (Read more about this topic in my post, Hiring Servants in the Regency Era and Later. How much does it cost to get married at Downton Abbey? Sadly, falling in love with your employer's daughter isn't a great resume builder. Do Servants Still Exist In England? - FAQS Clear For a start, how many servants are there in DA? Ive wondered who does Isobels hair, and who does the laundry and ironing. How did people treat slaves vs. servants and how did prospects differ for both groups once/if freed? Did slaves and servants get along, or did servants feel superior? See also. Mrs. Hughes was a friend to all of her staff, but she never allowed herself to be manipulated by her sympathies. RELATED: Downton Abbey: 10 Upstairs Memes That Will Have You Cry-Laughing But doing one's duty is more than just cleaning and cooking. Sigh. servant salaries on Downton Abbey The viewer will be struck by the sheer volume and variety of dishes that she creates and oversees daily. At the end of their stay with their hosts, guests paid servants a tip for their services. As head housemaid, she assists the daughters of the house with their hair and wardrobe, but she also performs the duties of a regular maid, dusting, cleaning, and changing the bed linen. Im going to have servants when Im rich so thanks for educating me on their duties and names. I have thought about gathering my posts for publication, but, given my schedule, I must take a pass for now. Credit: Courtesy of Carnival Film & Television Limited for MASTERPIECE. Answers must be in-depth and comprehensive, or they will be removed. Nick BriggsCarnival Film & Television Ltd. By J.I. A kind and observant woman, Mrs. Hughes nevertheless keeps her female team in line. First Footman Check (if senior can fill underbutler role), also attends the lady of the house when making calls. The Crawleys of Manchester I think are recently upper middle class, Doctor Crawley must have been middle middle class along with Mrs. Crawleys Doctor father, as Matthew is a solicitor they must have moved up in the world and bought a bigger house but not a bigger staff, they had a cook and two maids, if you listen to Mrs. Bird she says shes always had one kitchen maid and gotten on perfectly well. Servants were expected to "know their place". The First Footman: Thomas (Rob James-Collier) is a piece of work. Each table cloth would be washed, starched and ironed after each use. During season two, Downton Abbey was turned into a convalescent home for soldiers. Downton Abbey's kitchen maid Daisy Robinson, played by Sophie McShera. Away from his role on the show, he is also known for period dramas Shakespeare in Love, My Week with Marilyn and the BBC series Cranford. Credit: Courtesy of Carnival Film & Television Limited for MASTERPIECE. Mrs. Hughes ran a tight ship with her staff, creating a culture of strong work ethic as well as personal respect. Its addictive! A chauffeur not only drove the family around, but he was also its mechanic, keeping the car in top shape, acquiring parts when they were needed, and making sure there was enough petrol on hand to satisfy the familys needs. Passing her mistress on the stairs a servant was expected to "give room", which meant face the wall. Posted in jane austen, Movie review, PBS Movie Adaptation, Popular culture, Servants | Tagged Downton Abbey, Edwardian Country House, Edwardian servants, PBS Masterpiece Classic | 17 Comments. At the time, no one could have expected just how big of a phenomenon it would become. Although only her kitchen maid, Daisy, is seen as her regular assistant, there would have been others in a house this size. Thats a good question. Anna maids the three daughters, plus different houses had different rules for daughters, some gave them maids and let them have breakfast in bed, others didnt, Downton is obviously the latter. England is another country. Eventually, when he felt called to pursue bigger dreams, he did so without a ton of fanfare or fuss. Oh, ah, let em ring again! by George Cruikshank. Tweenies who help the parlormaids and the scullery maids- Downton has none. Scan this QR code to download the app now. We may receive books (physical or digitized) and DVDs for review purposes. and our Lucy Lethbridge, author of "Servants: A Downstairs History of Britain from the Nineteenth Century to Modern Times," joined Antonio Mora on the Jan. 6, 2014 edition of Consider This. Inquiring readers, from now until the U.S. airing of Downton Abbey, this blog will explore the facets of living in an English country house during the Edwardian era, and drawing upon the similarity and differences between the Edwardian and Regency eras. I buy one for every attraction I visit. MORE:Where are the cast of Downton Abbey now? The Valet: (Brendan Coyle) In small households, such as Matthew Crawleys, the position of butler and valet was combined. Always stand still when being spoken to by a lady and look at the person speaking to you. II, By CHARLES G. HARPER. Credit: Courtesy of Carnival Film & Television Limited for MASTERPIECE. The servants of Downton Abbey worked hard, but as shown in the series, they knew their place and were proud of their positions. You would think a big house like Downton would provide them, but perhaps not. Yet Gwen represents the future, in which political and socio-economic changes for women will end their dependency on the men of their family and force many to start fending for themselves. NEXT:Downton Abbey: 10 Actors You Forgot Were On The Show. Though this information is not known when this article was first posted, I seem to remember it didnt come out until season3. Its a small number compared to the west, but a much smaller nation. Always keep outer doors fastened. Footmen are expected to wear livery and are generally tall and handsome. A major part of the season concerns the end of the "large household" and how many of the staff are seeking alternate employment. And Downton Abbey doesn't get into the legacy of slavery on British society at all, partly because the story of slavery specifically on English soil is so different from . A newspaper reports that leading actors including Hugh Bonneville and Elizabeth McGovern have been given three-year deals worth 1million each. In the worst homes life was little better than a form of silver-service slavery. When her secret is uncovered the other servants are astounded how could anyone prefer working in as some faceless office over service in a great house? So true, I believe they had well over 20 servants, you tend to see them in the background carrying sheets and other household items, and they did have a land agent prior to Mathew, he resigned over a disagreement with Lord G, and him following Mathews advice, the land agent actually took over for his father and grew up on the estate. The Downton tourists are part of a growing phenomenon. Any resources you can refer that go beyond simple explanations but really examine this in-depth? He did his duties and rarely allowed for personal problems to overshadow his work. While employers would prefer servants to be married than to engage in out of wedlock sex, most employers wouldnt have a pregnant woman or children around. I've been watching the final season of Downton Abbey. The kitchen maid would perform these offices if there were no tweeny or scullery maid. Fired, thrown out. Credit: Courtesy of Carnival Film & Television Limited for MASTERPIECE, With or without guests, the daily routine for a family at its country house was unalterable, due in part to the servants, whose meal-times were rigid, and in part to Edwadian era tradition. Even if the first episode, as we follow Thomas around the house collecting up glasses, there are a number of servants that are un-named doing various jobs. Poor Crawleys: A Study of Downton Abbey's Staffing Woes Ha! THE CASTLE REALLY DID OPERATE AS A HOSPITAL DURING WORLD WAR I. Read the full article in The Sunday Times. King Charles III's coronation: How to watch and what time is it on? Servants who married often left, though the employer could find a position for the spouse within the establishment if they wanted to keep the servant. Undercook or 1stkitchenmaid check, but the first kitchen maid is responsible for cooking the servants meals, not the cook, and there should be more than one kitchen maid. Died off Prome, the 7th October 1852, while in command of the Naval Expedition on the river Irrawady against the Burmese Forces, aged 73 years.. In some instances, links will be removed from comments as well. In 2017, Variety estimated hour-long dramas (like Downton Abbey) cost $5 to $7 million dollars per episode to make. Alfred played the role of one of the home's footman after Thomas became Valet. At the turn of the 20th century when the population of Britain was only 36million there were 1.5million servants. Then Downton came along and it became a major tourist attraction.. I think it was the limits on social and sexual life which made many females turn from domestic service to that in offices and shops. Now I will feel so much more in tune with whats going on in it. VisitBritains director, Patricia Yates, said: The links between tourism, films and TV are potent ones. She added that period dramas have also raised the popularity of regions outside of London. Only the butler may answer the bell. I think Sarah retired from work to raise her family and only returned to domestic service when they were on their own. Jim Carter plays butler to the Crawley family, Carson. For a long time. The only time that the servants might be visible to family or guests was when they cleaned and polished the main halls and stairway. In smaller, middle-class homes in the cities servants were pushed into attics and dank basements to keep them apart from the family. Neame is now an ambassador for the GREAT Britain campaign, which is backed by government departments and the British Council, using it to promote the UK around the world. Any breakages or damage to the house will be deducted from wages. If you would like to share a new site, or point out an error, please email us. Credit: Courtesy of Carnival Film & Television Limited for MASTERPIECE. Write us at. The Butler: Jim Carter, who you may remember as Captain Brown from Cranford, portrays Mr. Carson, the butler, with grave dignity. This Is How Much It Cost To Film An Episode Of Downton Abbey - TheList.com (Do they mean the same thing? Unless pregnant by a member of the household in which case they might also get paid off. Forget the polished image of Downton Abbey, life below stairs was sadistic and miserable. The Real Downton Abbey: How True To History Is The Drama? | HistoryExtra Unlike their poorly paid counterparts, servants were housed and fed by their masters. The earliest rising servant was the scullery maid, or tweeny, who sat lowest on the pecking order. Baker / LIFE Books. Credit: Courtesy of Carnival Film & Television Limited for MASTERPIECE. Servants should never offer any opinion to their employers, nor even to say good night. By the end of the 19th century, the time of servants . In two years of real time, DA has progressed eight years. Cookie Notice A good and reliable servant was a prized commodity. In other parts of the world people revere our actors, our writing and production talent. Her husband and his past have brought a lot of heartache to her arcs in the series. Servants are portrayed as a loyal and largely contented breed. What you do is never sit on your laurels. We've ranked the servants' job performances. Pensioned off, but you worked until you were really old, and dying was a lot easier then anyway. Footmen on 'Downton Abbey'. That is more than worked on the land or in factories. Downton Abbey quietly premiered in the United Kingdom in 2011. The Table cloths in the servants hall , the butlers room and the housekeepers parlor would not be washed as frequently but would add to the workload. An atmosphere of melancholy and changing times pervades the opening to the final series of Downton Abbey on Sunday evening. The Downton Abbey actor is a familiar face with TV and movie fans, Hugh married his wife Lucinda 'Lulu' Williams in 1998. While Mr. Carson is fair, he does not hesitate to reprimand a servant or even fire one if he thinks it is for the benefit of the house. The castle has been one enormous character as well.. Im only on episode one, but as an African American who majored in history but focused mainly on ancient history and African American history, Im curious about the differences in England. Downton Abbey: Created by Julian Fellowes. Carriages are being replaced by automobiles, but the infrastructure for maintaining cars is not yet in place. They were better-paid jobs, less demeaning and didn't require the wearing of the hated servant's uniform of starched cap and apron. So much of it is about the personal relationships built with your coworkers and employer, as well as the commitment to go above and beyond. He often has pitfalls, most recently so speaking out of turn in the presence of the King and Queen. In 1891, the number of indoor domestic servants is 1.38 million, which is a pretty high number," says Dr Pamela Cox, senior lecturer in sociology at the University of Essex. Thank you for visiting this blog. Currently only the ground and first floors of Highclere, on the borders of Hampshire, are used. In class-obsessed Britain there was even a strict hierarchy among servants that kept them apart from one another. See today's front and back pages, download the newspaper, order back issues and use the historic Daily Express newspaper archive. But I assure you they have the normal amount of servants that an estate of this size was expected to have, probably more, as you posted they just arent part of the story, to many speaking parts would get confusing and very difficult to follow all the drama for every servant, oh and eventually as everyone knows, Branson takes over as land agent later in the story. The kitchen in these great houses often sat away from the house (to prevent cooking smells from wafting up to the public and private rooms) and were connected to the main house via underground passages. Margaret Powell, a former servant who died in 1984, recalled in her memoirs: "I was confined to the basement, the backstairs and the miserable attic room that I shared with another maid and which was so cold in winter that the ice froze in the jugs of water we used for washing. Service at table, except in the lowest houses employing servants was never performed by female servants. NEXT: Mr. Carson's 10 Best Quotes On Downton Abbey, Ranked But doing one's duty is more than just cleaning and cooking. The story ONLY Focused on 8-9 staff but you Constantly saw Another 6 to 10 members of staff doing things around the house or sitting down at each meal time. We'll own up to our mistakes and will make the corrections with a polite smile on our faces.) Have you seen the television series with Laurie and Fry? The female staff are forbidden from smoking. Its the first TV period drama that has really leaped out of the screen and become part of popular culture., Lady Carnarvon is still keen to emphasise that the long-term future of Highclere is not necessarily secure. We have to compete with attractions like the London Dungeon., Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning, 2023 Guardian News & Media Limited or its affiliated companies. The next time Im in one of these houses Ill take some pictures of the servants quarters to send you. Times Downton Abbey Got History Wrong - Grunge Never let your voice be heard by the ladies and gentlemen of the house. The typical (median) domestic worker is paid $12.01 per hour, much less than other workers (who are paid $19.97 per hour). (The First World War shook the system; the Second World War pretty much ended the system entirely). Servants were badly paid and often lived in squalor. Photograph: Nick Briggs/ITV. Does Highclere Castle rent rooms? Most worked until they could no longer perform to standards, most also started very young and if they remained with the house their whole working life they were usually given a cottage on the estate to live out their golden years, while that benefit has gone away, or almost extinct, there are a few that still get the benefit od a small cottage, also the servants could marry and have children especially later in 20th century. If you were in the business of doing events and hosting lots of parties, that maid staff would probably expand to two or three. Highly informative, while at the same time completely avoiding the fetish known as hat worship. Joanne Froggatt plays Anna Bates on the show. I don't think an inflation calculator can accurately communicate what those numbers really signified. There may be a difference between housemaid and parlourmaid uniforms, and perhaps differences in rank too. I suppose they are buying them as needed from the shops rather than having them made to match, or even expecting the maids to sew their own to a matching pattern. Downton Abbey as History | Foreign Affairs Allen Leech as Tom Branson, the Chauffeur. Valets often received lavish gifts, including the masters hand-me-down clothing which they could either wear or sell. Oddjob mandoes heavy lifting in the house, replaces oil in lamps, carries logs for the parlormaids to make fires in the main floor fireplaces, carries logs for the chambermaids to look after the fireplaces in the family and visitor bedrooms, can help maids carry up hot water for baths (piped hot water was so rare as to practically never happen). Where would this place them in terms of social class? Matthew and Isobel did seem to live in Crawley House with a staff of only two, however, and Isobel seemed for a time to have only Mrs. Bird, and then Ethyl. Im watching downtown abbey as a distraction from quarantine. OK seriously, this was a good post. Archived post. For more information, please see our Lady's maid Anna Bates is played by actress Joanne Froggatt, whose acting credits include Liar, Coronation Street and upcoming ITV drama Angela Black. January 11, 2016 7: . . Such a close daily association often develops intimacy over time. Lord Carnarvon said then: It was just after the banking crisis and it was gloom in all directions. We had been doing corporate functions, but it all became pretty sparse after that. One difference between the Edwardian and Regency great house is that the Regency servants except for footmen were unlikely to wear uniforms. (And anibundel, for posting!). Although these were generous, wages could vary greatly depending on a servant's gender or the position they occupied within the house. At this same time, there were about 700 families in England who could support large country homes. A lady, even of the middle class would be accompanied on her errands and calls by a footman. Mr. Molesley began as a butler for the Crawley Houseserving Isobel and Matthew Crawley. Downton has no laundry maids, adding to the burden on the undersized staff. Would that be analogous to, say, a mid-range hotel manager today, in status and income? Quite a few went on to work in inns or hotels. Actually, I would prefer to see more actors less often, rather than the current DA model, where every actor appears in every episode. I assume you would not as many full time staff. In addition to his managerial duties, he is shown in several scenes either polishing the silver or pouring over the books and counting the bottles of wine. That is more than worked on the land or in factories. 2-3 Parlor maids These maids work on the main floor public rooms and rarely if ever come in contact with the family. I think Mrs. Crawley is merely a very independant person, youd have to be if you were a Manchester matriarch, which, given her interests in charities and hospitals and so on is more than likely. 9. 15 Proper Facts About 'Downton Abbey' - mentalfloss.com Do you suppose theyll make a making of movie like theyve done with some other BBC productions? At the bottom of the ladder were the young girls who could enter service when they were 13, earning a few pounds a year. Also Downton is ill-equiped for a large dinner or house party, hospitality that would normally occur several times a year. Cora eventually learned that Baxter had been convicted for a crime she didn't commit. A stoic and capable man who served the earl as batman during the war, he must perform his duties of dressing the earl and seeing to his wardrobe regardless of the war injury that requires him to use a cane. He is as protective towards the Crawley family as he would have been to his own. We are not nearly as proud of our achievements as we should be. Wodehouses Jeeves and Wooster series of stores? I thought, So what?, because I had never heard of Highclere Castle. Towards this end, she has been secretly taking typing courses. She works with a positive attitude and champions those who need defending. Good eye! They run about 30 pages and are packed with information. The laundry was in a different building and the laundry staff were seperate, so its no wonder you dont see them, but you really should watch the series over, if you watch the downstairs secnes theres about 20 or more extras running around behind all the servants who get a character. What were the wages of Downton Abbey-era servants? Where would this UnderButler nope, but was an optional position. Just wondering assuming you could afford a house like Downton today, what would your staffing needs be now as compared to 1920? Servants await the arrival of guests. (modern), The Downton Abbey cast gather in front of Highclere Castle as they prepare for the final series. In reality, service in great houses was preferred over other jobs that were available during the 18th and 19th centuries, such as tedious and often dangerous labor in factories or backbreaking work on farms. Downton has none. One Scullery maid/tweenie. On a different note, Vic, have you ever thought of taking all of the cool research youve done and publish it in paper form? The neglected tombstone found in an overgrown burial ground. Occaisionally a servant who became pregnant by a member of The Family would be paid off (but also fired), depending. Downton Abbey: How much did Hugh Bonneville, Maggie Smith and more make "I got up at 5.30am to clean the fireplaces and front steps, polish the shoes and boots of everyone in the household.
how much did servants get paid downton abbey